Auto folding bed.



A. G. MITCHUM.

AUTO FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, 1915.

Patented Sept. 26

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

'A. e. MITCHUM.

AUTO FOLDING BED.

APPLICATION FILED 00123, l 9l5.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

2 sHEz'Ts-sHEET 2.1

s eras ea 1 ALBERT G. MITCHUM, 0F DAVENPORT, WASHINGTON.

AUTO FOLDING BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed October 23, 1915. Serial No. 57,492.

To all :whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that l, ALBERT G. MITCHUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Lincoln and The object is to provide a device of this 'character which can be easily and quickly secured in operative position in an automobile, and which can as easily be removed and folded into a small, short,compact package when not inuse, so that it can be conveniently carried in the machine, occupying but little room.

Further specific objects will appear in the 'subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device in operative position in an automobile, the side curtains of the automobile being omitted for the sake of'clearness. Fig. 2

is a plan view of the device, showing the slats arranged in operative position. Fig. 3

is a plan view of the device partly folded. Fig. 4 shows the device folded and rolled up. Fig. 5 shows the stifiening rod used at the end of the device not provided with f slats; and, Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of,

the metal angles used on the longitudinal slats. Fig. 7 is a broken perspective showing modified means for connecting the free ends of the transverse slats 3 and 4 with the free ends. of the parallel slats ,2 and 2". Fig. 8 is a broken plan view showingone of the transverse slats riding up laterally ove the spring 21 and approaching parallelism with the longitudinal slat 2*. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 7 and, Fig. 10 is a perspective on an enlarged scale showing the corner connections illustrated in Fig. 7 in operative relation to each other, with the slats removed.

Referring to the. specific construction of my invention, the numeral 1 indicates the main or body portion or the device, which portion is formed of a single piece of strong flexible material, usually a piece of fabric of some kind, such as heavy canvas or duck.

At one end, this body portion is provided with a series of longitudinally disposed slats 2, equidistant from each other. These slats are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the main body portion of the device, and their length is preferably equal to the width of the bed bottonr At the ends of the series of longitudinal slats 2, are two slats 3.and 4: extending at right angles to the slats 2 when the device is in operative position. slats 3 and 4 are pivoted to the device at diagonally opposite corners of the slatted portion thereof, by the pivots 5 and 6 respectively; while at their other ends they are adapted to be engaged and held in operative position by removable bolts-7 and 8, which are of course also at diagonally opposite corners of the device. The pivots 5 and These transverse 6 and the bolts 7 and S, at the ends of the transverse slats 3 and 4, extend on through the ends of the outer ones 2 and 2 of the series of longitudinal slats 2. From this construction it will be seen that when the bolt 7 is removed, the bar 3 can be swung on its pivot 5 and brought into parallelism with the longitudinal slat 2*, as indicated by the arrows leading from 7 to 8, the two bars lying in flat engagement with each other when in this position. In like mannor, the transverse slat 4 can be brought into parallel fiat engagement with the outer one 2 of the series of longitudinal slats as indicated by the arrows leading from 8 to 7.

At the forward end of the main or body portion 1 of my device I providethe transverse loop 9 extending across said end, which loop is formed by turning the end of the fabric back uponitself a short distance and then stitching the two lapping sections together. The loop thus formed is made large enough to receive a'substantial rod 10 which is inserted therein to-stifien the forward end of the section 1' when the device is in operative position'on the automobile.

Just to the rear of the loop 9 I provide two openings 11 in the section 1 to receive the two buckle-straps 12'; While at the rear end of the device, at its corners, the straps 13 are securely attached by riveting or oththe device serve to engage suitabie parts of the automobile at the front and rear ends thereof to hold the device securely in operative position when in use.

The small angles 14 are secured to certain intermediate ones of the longitudinal slats 2 near the ends of said slats to form abutments or stops for the transverse slats 3 and 4 between their ends, when they are brought to their operative position.

The slats 3' and are of the the longitudinal slats d'hen the device is in operative position on the automobile, the rear end of the slatted section rests on the back of the rear seat, and the iront end of the same rests on the back of the front seat, while the forward portion of the bed-bottom not provided with slats extends on from the back of the front toward the forward end of the automobile. This latter part of the device, which sup ports tlie feet of the occupants of the bed is held suitably tauttransversely by the slat it at the rear end of said portion and the rod 10 at the front end thereof.

In operating the device, when it is desired to fold up the same, automobile by means of the front and end buckle straps 12 and 13 respectively; then the rod 10 is withdrawn from the end loop 9; the bolts 7 and Sare taken from the ends of the slats 3 and 4, and said slats are swung on their pivots 5 and (3 into'parallel engage ment with the outer longitudinal slats 2 and 2 into the position shown in Fig. 3; the forward end of the device is then lapped bacluvardly over the slatted end thereof as also shown in Fig. 3, and the device is then ready to be rolled up into a compact roll as illustrated in Fig. 4, the rod 10, of course, being inclosed in the roll. The roll thus formed is then tied at each end with suitable cords 15; or thestraps 12 may be rcinoved from the eyes 11 and used for that purpose if desired. The device can then be laid in the automobile or secured to the running board where it will take up very little room till it is again needed for use.

Of course. the transverse slats 3 and 4 may be dispensed with if desired, and the device Will still render cllicient service, since in that case the ends of the longitudinal slats would still be well supported anyhow on the backs of the front and rear seats of the automobile, and would be held transversely taut thereon by means of the straps at thc corners of the device.

Should it at any time be more desirable to reinforce the outer ones 2" and 2 ol the series of longitudinal slats :3 than to havc the transverse slats at their ends, said trans verse slats 3 and 4 may be swung on their pivots 5 and 6 into-parallel flat cngagcinont Withsaid slats 2 and '2" respectively into the position they are ordinarily brought to same length as it is loosed i'rom the occupy when the-device isready to be rolled up, and since the transverse slats are of the same length as the longitudinal slats, the opening for the bolt 7 in the transverse slat 3 will be brought into registration with the opening for the bolt 8 in the slat 2 while the opening for thebolt 8 in the transverse slat will be in registration. with the opening for the bolt 7 in the slat 2 Then by simply passing the bolts 7 and .8 through these registering openings, the slats 3 and v at are securely fastened in parallelism with the slats 2 and 2* thereby doubling the which is a metallic plate 16 struck up at one side to form the right-angled section 17, and at an adjacent side struck up to form an angular section composed oi the vertical portion ld'terminating at its top in the inwardly bent horizontal portion 19. Each plate 161s provided with suitable openings 20 for securing the plates to the free ends of the slats 2 and 2 with the upturned sections 17 of the plates at the ends of the slats, and the sections 18 at the outer sides thereof.

The section 18 is of the same heig tas the section 17, so that at its outer enithe horizontal section 1.) overlap' and rests on the top edge of thesection ii.

Cooperating with each of the plates 16 isa spring 21 having openings at its rear end for securing the spring in operative position relative to the plate 16, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and .F'oin these figures it will be seen that the to ward end of the spring is bent to rise upwardly above the plane occupied by the rear end thereof where it is scoured to the slat 2. At its forward frce end the spring terminates in the downwardly bent section 23 which takes into an opening 2-1 in the slat 2 just at'the rear of the plate l6 to permit the upwardly in clined. forward end of the spring to be depressed.

Referring further to Fig. 7, it will be seen that when the free end ot' the transverse slat l is swung to and the l'rco cud oi the parallel slat .l", the end of the slat i will ride up on the spring 21. and that downward pressure applied to tho slat 4- will depress the spring 21 and permit the end of the slat r to pass inidcrncath the section if) of the plate till said slat abuts against the vertical end section 1'? ol' the plate, at which time the i means; a

forward end of the spring 21 is released and flies up at the rear side of the slat i to lock said slat in the position it has just assumed.

The downwardly extending end-section- 23 of the spring could be dispensed with, in which case there would be no need of the opening 24 which receives it when the spring is depressed but it will be seen that this end "23 of the spring acts as a bolt projecting into the opening 24, so that unless the spring were depressed, the end of the slat t would have to shear this bolt before the slat could be withdrawn from its locked position. When it is desired to bring the transverse slats 3 and 4 into parallelism with the slats 2*- and 2, to which they are respectively pivoted at one end, (as for instance when it is desired to fold up the bed bottom), the modification I have shown meets the requirements admirably, since the free ends of the end slats 3 and 4 are received under the horizontal sections 19 of the corner plates 16; and in order that these slats may be the more easily entered underneath said sections 19, the tops of-the free ends of the springs 21 are transversely inclined inward to provide an inclined surface on top of the springs for said end slats to ride up over. This arrangement also causes the upper outer side of the free end of the spring to present sharp corner to the under side of the slat which depresses the spring. This sharp corner extends in the direction of the 86 grain of the slat, so that it easily engages the slat and holds it against movement away from the plate 16.

Fig. 8 of the drawings shows the slat 3 riding up over the spring 21, almost ready 40 to be depressed and passed under the sec tion 19 01 the corner plate.

Having thus described the principles em bodied in my invention, and having shown and described means for making a practical 46 application of the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:-

1. A device of the character described, comprising a main portion formed of flesh 50 ble material, said portion being provided at one end with reinforcing bars secured thereto and extending a distance approximately equal to the distance from the back of one seat of an automobile to the back of theother seat, to adapt said reinforced portion of the device to rest at one end on the back of oneseat and at the other end on the back of the other seat, the other portion of the device being without reinfoiv-ement; and

the device being provided at its ends with means for engaging an automobile.

2. device of the character described,

. comprising a main portion formed of flexible material, said portion being provided at It one end with a series of reinforcing bars secured thereto and extending longitudinally and transversely thereof, said reinforced portion extending a distance approximately equal to the distance from the back of one seat of an automobile to the. back of the other seat, to adapt said reinforced portion to rest at one end on the back of one seat and at the other end on the back of the other seat, said reinforcing bars being provided with means to cause allof said bars to extend in ea single direction when desired; and the device being provided, at its ends with means for engaging an automobile. p v

3. A. de ice of the character described, 30 comprising a main portion formed of'fleXihis material, one end of said portion being without longitudinal reinforcement and the other end being provided with a series of reinforcing bars secured thereto and ex- 5 tending in a longitudinal direction from the end of the device to the middle portion thereof; and a transverse bar at each end of the series of longitudinal bars, said trans.- verse bars being pivoted at diagonally opposite corners of said reinforced portion of the device and adapted to swing on said pivots into parallelism with the longitudinal bars to cause said bars to all extend in a. longitudinaldirection when it is desired to fold the device; the free ends of the transverse bars being provided with means for removably securing the same in their operative positions; and means at the four corners of said main portion of the device for securing the same to an automobile.

4:. A device of the character described,

comprising a main portion formed of flexi ble material, one end of said portion being provided with a series of reinforcing bars secured thereto and extending in a longitudinal direction from the end of the device to the 'middle portion thereof and a transverse bar at each end of the longitudinal bars, the other end of said main portion 'of the device beingwithout longitudi-' nal reinforcement, one end of each of said transverse bars being removably secured to a corner of said reinforced portion of the device, said bars being adapted to swing on their pivots into parallelism with the longi tudinal bars when itis desired to fold up the device; abut-merits on the longitudinal bars for engaging the transverse bars when they are swung into position at right angles to 1 0 said longitudinal bars; and means at the corners of the main portion of the device for securing the same in operative position on an automobile.

5. In a device of the character described,

a reinforcing frame formed of a plurality of bars all approximately the same length,

and comprising a series of longitudinally extending parallel bars and a transverse bar at each end of the parallel bars, said all the bars of the frame to extend in the 7 same direction when desired, the free enos of each of ends of each of the outer ones of the longitudinal hars being provided with means tor engagement with *ach'other when the former are swung int contact with the latter; and means tor a .ti'anatical locking; the ends of the former against niovenu-nt away from the endsof the latter when thus swung into engagement with each other.

(3. in a device of the character descrihed, a series of longitlulinallv eXtending' parallel bars, and a transverse bar at each end of the pa 'allel liars, said transverse liars" being pivoted to the outer ones of the parallel bars at points diagonally opposite each other, and adapted to swing on said pivots into parallelism with the longitudinal bars to cause all the liars to extend in the sanny. rection when desired, the free ends ot' pa 'allel hars being provided with 2r receiving and autmnatieall locking in gagenient therewith the ends of the transverse bars when the latter are swung into a th 1*11g'zxge11xe11t with the former.

7. In a device of the character described, a series of longitudinally extending: parallel bars, and a transverse baat each end of the parallel hars, said transverse bars heing pivoted to the outer ones of the series of parallel liars at points diagonally opposite each other, and adapted to swing on said pivots into pa allelisni with the longitudinal bars to c.- use all the bars to extend. in the same direction when desired; plates on the tree ends of the outer ones of the parallel bars provided with in ans for recei ing and holding the free ends of the transverse e rs when swung into engagement therewith; and springs cooperating; with said plates to :llll'flll'liltlt'llll Y lock the transverse hars in engagement with the longitudinal bars when the free ends of the two are swung; together.

8. In a device ol" the charartcr described, a series of longitlulinally extending parallel said transverse );l1 l and the tree l maeel.

iiaraantl a transverse bar at each. end of the pa 'allel hars, sai l transverse bars being pivoted to the outer ones of the series of parallel bars at points diagonally opposite each other, anl adapted to swing on said pivots into parallelism with the, ltmgitiulinal l ars to cause all the bars to extend in the same direction when desired: plates on the free ends of theouter ones of the series of pa al.- l-el liars each plate having; an upward l bent section at the end of the bar to which it is attached. and an upwardly-arid-inwardly hent seetion at the outer side of said bar; and a lr' itndinally extending spring cooperating:' with each plate and secured on each ha r at. the side at. the plate opposite the end, of the h; z; the inner end of said spring living seeuret to the liar and the outer end thereof being tree and inclined upwardly.

9f in a device of the character deserihed, a series or" longitadinallv extending parallel bars. and a transverse ha at ach end of the series at parallel. oars. said transverse hars lieing pivoted to the outer ones of tl'ieseries o't parallel oars at points diagonally opposite each other, and adapted to swL on said pivots into parallelism with the longitudinal liars to cause all the hairs to extend in the 521116 direction when desired: plates on the free ends of the outer ones of the series of parallel oars. each plate having an upwardly bent section at the end otthe bar to which it is attarhed, and an upwardly-and inwardly bent section at the outer side of saidoar: and a longitudinally extending spring cooperating with each plate and secured on each bar at the side of the plate opposite the outer end of the har, the inner end of the spring being: secured to the bar and the outer end thereof being free and inclined upwardly. aid free upwardly-inelined end of each spri lu ing also transversely inclined inwardly, i permit said trai'isverse bars to ride up o. said nail and laterally.

in testimony whereof I allix my signature in pl'escnre of two witnesses.

ALB ERT G. MITC HUM.

Witnesses (lava A. ln'ri'iJonN, la Mus S. 'Fnuncu.

springs both longitncli- 

